Families encouraged to get on their bikes

Dawn Renton

Families are being encouraged to enjoy the freedom and fun of cycling as the annual Family Cycling Festival returns this Saturday to Rouken Glen Park.

The event organised by NDT Cycling (previously known as Pedalwise), is part of the Big Bike Revival, a national campaign that encourages more people to get cycling.

This is NDT’s fourth Family Cycling Festival at Rouken Glen Park since 2016 and is delivered in association with NDT’s GET (Grow, Eat and Travel) Local project, supported by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund.

The Family Cycling Festival includes loads of fun and free activities with an off-road Bike Trail (move over Danny MacAskill!); guided-rides round the Park; electric bike try outs to help conquer those pesky hills, with RT Cycles; free Dr Bike sessions to help you get your bike in shape for the day and the days ahead.

Don’t miss out on the chance to earn yourself a refreshing smoothie using pedal power on the “smoothie bike!” and have some fun with family and friends on the suitably named “wonky bikes!”

Drop by the info desk and find about the bike services and activities available across East Renfrewshire, and at the NDT Cycling Bike Hubs, including information on travelling by bike and cycle routes, bike repairs, maintenance training, bike recycling and drop-off points for unwanted bikes.

Neilston Development Trust’s (NDT) ambition is that the Festival, in association with its Bike Hub in the Park, helps towards making East Renfrewshire a leading Local Authority for the numbers of people cycling for recreation, to work and school and for short local journeys.

Shona Morris, project manager of Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival, said: “We’re delighted to support this family cycling festival as part of the Big Bike Revival.

“We want to see more people cycling for everyday journeys and NDT Cycling is offering lots of support to help locals in East Renfrewshire to get riding again.

“The Bike Hub has a range of great resources to support healthy lifestyles and everyday cycling, so people can benefit from the positives of a bike ride.

“It’s fast, cheap, fun and easy and we are looking forward to working with NDT Cycling to encourage more people to get their bikes out of the shed, fixed up and ready to roll to the shops, work or to visit friends and family.”

Duncan MacIntyre, chairmann of East Renfrewshire Sustrans Volunteers, said: “NDT Cycling and its Bike Hubs are a really important resource in East Renfrewshire, and have a key role in our aspirations of making East Renfrewshire and its communities a great place for cyclists.

“I am delighted that they are running their Festival again this year and look forward to seeing the Park filled with cyclists, enjoying fun on two (or maybe three!) wheels.”